hydropower

Over the last four years, the Biden administration led a constant tirade of attacks on the four Lower Snake River dams.

Concern is growing in farm country that while the Snake River dams may not be physically removed, environmental groups may successfully get the dams “functionally disabled” in the name of fish conservation.  Eastern Oregon Representative Cliff Bentz during last week’s Natural Resources Subcommittee on the Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries said the conversation around fish populations is not looking i

Manitoba premier Wab Kinew announced last week that his province will not be renewing several American hydroelectric supply contracts when they expire at the end of April.  Those Manitoba Hydro contracts amount to 500 Megawatts of power annually and feed electric grids throughout Minnesota.  Ki...

Late last month, several federal agencies, including the Army Corp of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and BPA signed an Environmental Impact Statement keeping the four lower Snake River dams in place. Last week, several environmental groups announced plans to file a suit against the federal government saying not enough was being done to protect salmon and steelhead at risk by those dams ... Read

Earlier this week, several federal agencies signs the Environmental Impact Statement regarding management of the Columbia and Snake River systems. The draft EIS, which was released earlier this year, said removing the Snake River dams would destabilize the power grid and increase greenhouse emissions ...

The House of Representatives passed a broad bill that intends to help the U.S. boost energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in an effort to combat climate change. According to The Hill the chamber passed the 900-page Clean Energy and Jobs Innovation Act by a 220-185 vote late last week ...

A recent study done by Seattle-based ECONorthwest claims removing the four lower Snake River dams exceeds the cost.  The study was done for another Seattle-based company, Vulcan Inc.  Vulcan oversees the business and philanthropic interests of Microsoft co-founder and former Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trailblazer owner, the late Paul Allen. The S...

Coming up in September, the entire Inland Northwest will have an opportunity to learn first hand how the Columbia and Snake river dams benefit the region.  Riverfest 2019 will take place September 7th in Kennewick.  Colin Hastings with the Pasco Chamber says last year over 3,000 people came out to learn the benefits the river system offers.  He note...

Starting Tuesday, the Bonneville Power Administration will comply with a court ruling demanding that spill flows be increased over the Snake and Columbia River dams.  The ruling has proven very unpopular with eastern Washington representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Dan Newhouse and other rural northwest lawmakers.  Th...